2022 Directed by Olivier Assayas
Mira is an American movie star disillusioned by her career and a recent breakup, who comes to France to star as “Irma Vep” in a remake of the French silent film classic, “Les Vampires.” Set against the backdrop of a lurid crime thriller, Mira struggles as the distinctions between herself and the character she plays begin to blur and merge.
Joe Cunningham Harrison Kreiss Olivier Assayas Alicia Vikander Sylvie Barthet Sam Levinson Ashley Levinson Kevin Turen Stuart Manashil Daniel Delume Ravi Nandan Hallie Sekoff
אירמה וופ, 이마 베프, Ирма Веп, אירמה ופ, 迷离劫, 迷離劫, Irma Vep - La vita imita l'arte, Ірма Веп
"Movies are a portal to some sort of spiritual world. Some sort of spiritual world we don’t have access to anymore."
Cinephiles will claim that this is a meta(physical) love letter to and critique of Cinema™, a supplement to the original Irma Vep, but we all know it's just that "hey" text you send your ex whenever you're horny, expanded to eight edging hours.
I talked to Olivier Assayas about episodes one through four.
"But, you know, it’s me and it’s not me. René is myself and not myself. The moment I give it to an actor and write the lines, shoot it on the set with a film crew, it does become something else. In the same way Jade Lee is not exactly Maggie — even if part of it is [Laughs] based on real life. The thing is… again, I feel comfortable with it because it’s a comedy, I’m making fun of myself, I deal with genuine emotions. But I think it’s genuine emotions everyone can share: love lost, failed marriage. Sadly [Laughs] it’s a very common situation. So I touch something that is pretty universal."
Irma Vep. 2022. Directed by Olivier Assayas.
The conclusion of Irma Vep (The Terrible Wedding) was so profound and wrapped up everything and left us wanting to see the entire series all over again. As Mira slipped more and more into her character of Irma Vep she was able to transcend everyday human limitations. She began to walk through walls and act as a voyeur. She saw and heard the secrets of those she desired and envied.
Rene was reborn and his desire to make films was restored. In fact, the entire series elevated the importance of film as an escape of everyday life. The actors conjure their roles and they channel/embody their character. As the director acts as a…
Olivier Assayas really did just make the first episode incredibly gay so we'd all be forced to keep watching seven more episodes about his divorce
My favorite TV series so far this year. Specters bedevil every frame of this, none looming larger than Maggie Cheung and VERTIGO.
Logging as a film because that’s how René would want it.
Brilliant. Favorite TV thing since Twin Peaks The Return. Assayas does impossible level of self-evaluation and reflection. Please let Alicia let loose more and be fun going forward from this. Guy Ritchie and Olivier have figured that out. Gottfried is one of my fave TV characters of all time.
A total delight, a remix/update of the original movie's rumination on what it means to care about movies in an ecosystem where they are being constantly, ruthlessly degraded. Also like the original movie, I can't tell if the film-within-a-film is supposed to be good or not.
Just when you think it can’t get any gayer or any cooler, the queer princess herself, Kristen Stewart, turns up to rock the party.
Way too long, overall, but enjoyable and interesting all the same. I liked how it got weirder and weirder as it went on. Also, the first role I’ve genuinely liked Alicia Vikander in.
Vampires. Lesbians. Actresses. Can’t go wrong.
Men will literally remake one of their signature works and add in a dream sequence in which a thinly-disguised author avatar and an equally thinly-veiled substitute for an ex-wife rehash the demise of their marriage instead of going to therapy.
Also: I want what Lars Eidinger is having.
(watched 4 episodes)
I love being proven wrong. Automatic five stars just for playing my favorite Sonic Youth song.
